Amarinder welcomes fast-tracking of Kartarpur Corridor by Centre

Chandigarh, Mar 10 : Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has welcomed the decision of the Union Home Ministry to fast track the development of Kartarpur Corridor, but has reiterated his demand for passport and visa free `khule darshan’ for pilgrims visiting the historic gurdwara across the international border.

“Welcome decision of @HMOIndia to build #KartarpurCorridor on fast track basis to enable Sikh pilgrims to visit the historic Gurdwara in #Pakistan in time for 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. I extend all support from my govt for the project,” the Chief Minister tweeted late Saturday night.

In a statement here on Sunday, however, he made it clear that it was not enough to build the Corridor on fast track but the pilgrims also needed to be facilitated to have `khule darshan’ by waiving off the requirement of passport and visa to travel across the border.

The condition of passport and visa would prevent thousands of devotees without passports, particularly those living in the rural belt of Punjab, from fulfilling their aspiration to pay obeisance at the historic gurdwara associated with the life of the first Sikh Guru, pointed out the Chief Minister.

The central government could easily provide access to the gurdwara to these non-passport holder devotees by waiving off the condition of passport and visa, and using other documents instead to verify the identity of the pilgrims, he added.

The Corridor would provide an extremely limited window of travel, with restricted access, and would be a high-security route to the gurdwara, which made it easier for the government to waive off the condition of passport and visa, said the Chief Minister.

The first Sikh Guru preached universality, which could be realized if all his devotees are now allowed to pray at the gurdwara which remains integrally linked with his life, said the Chief Minister. “Let us not deprive the genuine devotees of access to the historic gurdwara only because they do not have passports,” he said, urging the central government to accept his request in this regard.UNI